While the exact location of the gathering was not disclosed, it is believed that al Shishani gathered the ISIS force at a captured Syrian military base in Al Bab or Manbji, towns north of Aleppo. The gathering took place in front of what appears to be an ammunition bunker or aircraft hanger. Al Shishani is believed to be basing his operations in Aleppo from the two towns.

The red-bearded al Shishani, pictured below, is standing beneath the black banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of The Long War Journal.